Hi. I just read your post about your girl and her glaucoma. I am so sorry that you and she will now have to deal with this dreaded disease, as have so many other basset owners.
My Annabelle has glaucoma also - she has been completely blind since Jan. 2001, when she was not quite 20 months old. She has the cosmetic implants - there's a link to pictures of her, below.
The first thing I would really encourage you to do is join the BlindDogs online support and information group. Their website is at
www.blinddogs.com, and their online email group (which works like the Daily Drool list, here, does) is at groups.yahoo.com/groups/blinddogs/ This group was incredibly helpful to me in those terrible days after Annabelle's diagnosis; full of very kind and knowledgeable people. Many of the dogs on there are blind from glaucoma; this group will be incredibly helpful with any questions you have (and I'm sure you have a LOT).
I also want to send you these links to three of the best articles I have found lately on glaucoma in dogs. The first one is a clear and simply written explanation of glaucoma, its causes, treatments, and outcomes - written "for the layman", as it were.
www.vetcentric.com/magazine/magazineArticle.cfm?ARTICLEID=1435
The second one is from the
www.blinddogs.com website. It is a great article explaining the different types of medications that are used in the treatment of glaucoma, why they are used, and their pros and cons in various situations.
www.blinddogs.com/glaucoma-meds.htm
www.blinddogs.com/glaucoma-meds2.htm
The third one is actually written for vet students at the Univ. of Wisconsin Vet School. It is an overview of symptoms, questions to ask, and apropriate courses of treatment, given the condition of the eye, etc.
www.vetmed.wisc.edu/students/courses/miller/Glaucoma.pdf
I wnat to assure you, that, if her second eye is also affected, and she eventually loses her sight completely, that she can and will lead a full and happy life. My Annabelle bosses around our foster bassets, wrestles happily with "her" dachshund, attends Waddles and Bashes, and generally lives a full and rich life as supreme Ruler of our Household.
Annabelle has had her eyes removed, because the glaucoma could not be controlled, and she was in a lot of pain. We opted for the cosmetic implants. Our vet did a great job, and they look really good (I think

). TO see pictures of her with the implants, please check out her online photo album. Go to
www.photoisland.com, and log in to my albums with the following information:
Log-in ID:
[email protected]
Guest Password: annabelle
Once there, check out the album named "Annabelle". While you're there, please check out the album titled "Lightning". That's our previous foster basset, Lightning, who was also blind (in one eye). He had one eye removed, so you can compare the way he looks (removal) with the way she looks (implants).
Please let me know if you have any questions or need any other information. I have a TON of info on glaucoma, eye surgeries, and related topics squirreled away here and there - I will be glad to help any way I can.
Again, my sympathies for what you are going through. I have been there; it is definitely a time of great anxiety and grief - and both of those are OK, and normal. {{{HUGS}}}}
[ January 06, 2004, 02:26 PM: Message edited by: Menzie ]